Bristle head cassette comprising a cassette collar and a paint brush including such bristle head cassette

ABSTRACT

A paint brush kit and a bristle head cassette ( 1 ) for a paint brush, comprising a cassette collar ( 20 ) and a bundle of bristles ( 10 ) comprising a plurality of bristles ( 14 ), wherein the bundle of bristles ( 10 ) have a first bundle end ( 11 ) and a second bundle end ( 13 ), the bristles ( 14 ) of the bundle of bristles ( 10 ) being arranged aligned at the first bundle end ( 11 ) obtaining a substantial flush bundle end surface ( 12 ) at the first bundle end ( 11 ) of the bundle of bristles ( 10 ), the cassette collar ( 20 ) comprise; a recess ( 24 ) having a shape that substantially corresponds to a cross sectional shape of the first bundle end ( 11 ) of the bundle of bristles ( 10 ) and the recess ( 24 ) extend from a first collar end ( 21 ) having a first collar end surface ( 22 ) to a second collar end ( 23 ) opposite the first collar end ( 21 ), the bundle of bristles ( 10 ) is connected to the cassette collar ( 20 ) and arranged in said recess ( 24 ) such that the substantial flush bundle end surface ( 12 ) of the bundle of bristles ( 10 ) is substantially aligned with the first collar end surface ( 22 ), the second collar end ( 23 ) of the cassette collar ( 20 ) is directed towards the second bundle end ( 13 ) of the bundle of bristles ( 10 ) and the cassette collar ( 20 ) is arranged to be connected to a brush handle ( 70 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a bristle head cassette comprising a cassette collar and a paintbrush kit comprising such bristle head cassette, a handle and a connector for connecting the bristle head cassette to the handle via the cassette collar.

BACKGROUND ART

The conventional paintbrush has both a handle and a bristle head/bristle pack including a bundle of bristles, which is able to hold therein a paint by adhesion as well as capillary forces.

Bristles may be natural or synthetic filaments, wherein synthetic filaments, i.e. monofilaments, can be produced from a wide variety of thermoplastic polymers, in a wide variety of configurations including solid and hollow, and in a wide variety of cross-sections, including circular, oval, triangular, trilocular, tetralocular, lobate, or may contain multiple voids.

Usually, the bristle head is permanently attached to the handle such that the bristle head cannot be separated from the handle. Often, bristles are permanently attached to the handle using a ferrule, which is a metallic clamp that surrounds a lower portion of the bristles and an upper portion of the handle to bind the bristles to the handle. This is conventionally done by inserting one end of the bristle pack into the ferrule and then applying an adhesive against the end of the bristle pack inside the ferrule.

Paintbrushes featuring different bristle heads may be useful for different purposes. Therefore, a user normally purchases and maintains separate paintbrushes having heads of various sizes, shapes, and materials. The result can require a significant investment in tools.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,250,715 B attempts to overcome this disadvantage by disclosing a paint brush having a detachably interconnected handle and bristle head. This system allows for detaching and replacing bristle heads from the handle. This system has the disadvantage of not being compatible with the current way of assembling a paintbrush by use of a ferrule, limiting the application of each bristle head to be used with handles with only one type of connector having a specific and non-standardised design.

Moreover, usually an epoxy adhesive is used, wherein it is commonly known that epoxy resins in their liquid and uncured state are mostly classed as irritant to the eyes and skin, as well as toxic to aquatic organisms. Exposure to epoxy resins can, over time, induce allergic reactions. Sensitization generally occurs due to repeated exposure (e.g. through poor working hygiene and/or lack of protective equipment) over a long period of time. Furthermore, epoxy adhesives used for paint brush manufacturing is known to have a long curing time, usually several hours.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to overcome deficiencies of the prior art, such as indicated above.

It is an object of the invention to provide a bristle head cassette comprising a bundle of bristles facilitating the possibility of connection to a paintbrush handle by means of different types of connectors, including a ferrule and a connector integrated in the paintbrush handle.

It is yet an object of the invention to provide a bristle head cassette that may be mechanically connected to a paintbrush handle, either by means of a ferrule or alternatively by means of a connector integrated in the paintbrush handle or a ferrule and connector in combination.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an interchangeable bristle head cassette configured for being detachable attach to a paint brush handle by means of a connector being either a separate part, e.g. a ferrule, or an integrated part of the handle.

It is another object to provide a bristle head cassette to be used in paint brushes wherein the assembly of the bristle head cassette is performed before the bristles is connected to the ferrule or similar connection means for connecting the bristle head cassette to the paint brush handle.

It is even yet another object to provide a bristle head cassette to be used in paintbrushes wherein the overall manufacturing time, i.e. connection of the bristles, is reduced, compared to conventional paintbrushes.

It is another object to provide a bristle head cassette to be used in paintbrushes and a method of manufacturing the bristle head cassette without exposing the manufacturing staff to toxic adhesives.

According to an aspect a bristle head cassette for a paint brush is provided, comprising a cassette collar and a bundle of bristles comprising a plurality of bristles, wherein the bundle of bristles have a first bundle end and a second bundle end, the bristles of the bundle of bristles being arranged aligned at the first bundle end obtaining a flush or substantial flush bundle end surface at the first bundle end of the bundle of bristles, the cassette collar comprise; a recess having a shape that substantially corresponds to a cross sectional shape of the first bundle end of the bundle of bristles and the recess extend from a first collar end having a first collar end surface to a second collar end opposite the first collar end, the bundle of bristles is connected to the cassette collar and arranged in said recess such that the flush or substantial flush bundle end surface of the bundle of bristles is aligned or substantially aligned with the first collar end surface, the second collar end of the cassette collar is directed towards the second bundle end of the bundle of bristles and the cassette collar is arranged to be or configured for being connected to a brush handle.

Hereby is provided a bristle head cassette facilitating the possibility of connection to a paintbrush handle by means of different types of connectors, including a ferrule and a connector integrated in the paintbrush handle. Optionally there may additionally be provided an alternative interchangeable bristle head cassette configured for being detachable attach to a paintbrush handle by means of a connector being either a separate part, e.g. a ferrule, or an integrated part of the handle or a combination of such parts.

In the context of the present invention under the term “bristle” there is understood an elongated flexible body having a first bristle end and a second bristle end. The first bristle end is part of a root section where the bristle is contained in, held in and/or directly or indirectly fastened to the cassette collar to form a bristle head cassette. The second bristle end of the bristle forms a free tip, which usually contacts a surface to be coated with paint.

Each bristle/The plurality of bristles may be natural filaments and/or synthetic filaments, i.e. monofilaments.

If the plurality of bristles includes natural filaments, the natural filaments may originate from any suitable animal such as; pigs, squirrels, badgers, horses, cattle and/or other animals, and/or plant fibres from coconuts or other plant fibers.

If the plurality of bristles includes synthetic filaments, the synthetic filaments may be solid and/or hollow and have a wide variety of cross-sections, including circular, oval, triangular, trilocular, tetralocular, lobate, etc., and/or may be corrugated, contain multiple voids or have any other type of uneven surface. The synthetic filaments, i.e. monofilaments, may be made from any suitable thermoplastic polymer, including polyamides, polyesters and/or polyolefins.

The plurality of bristles may be a mix of different types of natural filaments and/or synthetic filaments, e.g. having different lengths and/or different diameters and/or be made of different materials. By “diameter” throughout this application is meant the average diameter of the bristle or in general the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the bristle.

In the context of the present invention under the term “cassette collar” there is understood a collar shaped body having a first collar end with a first collar end surface and a second collar end having a second collar end surface, the collar shaped body extending between the first collar end and the second collar end, and a recess extending from a second opening in the second collar end towards the first collar end.

The cassette collar may be a moulded body made from any suitable material such as a mouldable polymer, preferably a thermoplastic polymer such as; polyamides, polyesters and/or polyolefins.

The outer periphery of the first and/or second collar end surface may be oval, round, squared, triangular, v-shaped or have any other suitable shape.

The bristle head cassette may be obtained by;

-   -   gathering a predefined number of bristles into a group or bundle         of bristles so that the bristles are tangent to each other along         their length,     -   aligning the bristles at the first bristle end of the bristles         to form a substantially flush first bundle end surface at the         first bundle end,     -   introducing the first bundle end of the group or bundle of         bristles into the recess of the cassette collar,     -   aligning the first collar end surface and the first bundle end         surface, and     -   connecting the plurality of bristles to each other and/or to the         cassette collar.

In the context of the present invention under the term “aligned, aligning” there is understood either a precise adjustment wherein a flush (end) surface is obtained or a relative position, i.e. a predefined offset between two (end) surfaces, the end surfaces e.g. being the first bundle end surface and/or the first collar end surface.

In the context of the present invention under the term “flush surface” there is understood a continuous or unbroken surface being a flat surface, a curved or staggered surface or a surface having any other suitable shape.

According to an aspect the cassette collar is arranged to be or configured for being mechanically connected to the brush handle.

Thus, furthermore a bristle head cassette which may be mechanically connected to the paint brush handle, either by means of a ferrule or as an alternative by means of a connector integrated in the paint brush handle is provided or by a combination of such entities.

Alternatively the bristle head cassette may be connected to the paintbrush handle by means of an adhesive or welding.

According to an aspect the recess is a through going hole.

The recess may be a through going hole extending between the second opening in the second collar end to a first opening in the first collar end. The first opening being on the opposite side of the cassette collar than the second opening. The periphery of the first and/or second opening may be oval, round, squared, triangular, v-shaped or have any other suitable shape.

According to an aspect the bristle head cassette has a flush cassette end surface. The flush cassette end surface is obtained by joining the cassette collar and the plurality of bristles together.

According to an aspect the cassette collar and/or the plurality of bristles are made from a thermoplastic polymer.

According to an aspect the first collar end surface is aligned offset with the bundle end surface.

The first collar end surface may form a protruding edge around the first bundle end surface, so that a cavity is formed which may contain/receive an amount/thickness of melt (by the “fusing”) and/or adhesive. The height of the protruding edge/the depth of the cavity may be 0.5 to 10 mm, preferably between 2 to 7 mm. As a result, the obtained first cassette end surface is flush or substantially flush after the curing/solidification.

Hereby is provided a bristle head cassette which may be assembled by fusing, by e.g. a laser, or as an alternative by applying an adhesive.

According to an aspect the cassette collar and the bundle of bristles are fused together by means of a laser. The cassette collar provides for that the laser could come into contact with the cassette collar and the bundle of bristles at an angle, which opens up for that a number of bristle head cassettes can be made simultaneously with one laser.

According to an aspect the first collar end and the plurality of the first bristle ends are fused together by means of a laser to form a flush cassette end surface.

Hereby is provided a bristle head cassette wherein the overall manufacturing time, i.e. connection of the bristles, is reduced compared to conventional paintbrushes. This is due to the elimination of the curing time of an adhesive. Furthermore, it is provided an alternative bristle head cassette to be used in paintbrushes and a method of manufacturing the bristle head cassette without the need of exposing the manufacturing staff to toxic adhesives and where the effort and messy/mucky job of handling, using and applying a sticky fluidic adhesive is reduced.

The laser source may be controlled to fuse e.g. the first bristle end of the plurality of bristles/monofilaments together by means of heat produced by the laser beam. This is done by arranging the group or bundle of bristles/monofilaments and the cassette collar so they are submitted to the action/energy of the laser beam. The laser source is applied to heat an area evenly for a uniform fusing of the first bristle end of the plurality of bristles/monofilaments and the first collar end surface of the cassette collar.

The temperature applied by the laser may preferably be sufficient to melt the first end of the plurality of bristles/monofilaments together and to melt the first collar end surface together with the adjacent first bristle ends to provide a strong and at the same time flexible or supple or soft melt/fuse when fusing the first bristle end of the plurality of bristles/monofilaments together, whereas the temperature is kept at an optimised level as a too high temperature during the fusing may provide a porous and brittle melt or fuse. The plurality of first bristle ends and the first collar end surface hereby forms a flush hardened melt forming the flush cassette end surface.

One or more lenses may be used to have the laser beam out of focus. Hereby is provided an alternative and/or supplementary way of distributing the heating from the laser such that the first bristle end of the bristles/monofilaments is not burned off but only melted and jointed together.

Alternatively, the laser source may be controlled to fuse e.g. the outer periphery of the bundle of bristles, i.e. a side portion along the length of the peripheral bristles, to the second collar end.

Thus, in a further aspect of the invention the cassette collar and the plurality of the first bristle ends are joint together by means of an adhesive.

The first collar end surface and the bundle end surface need not necessarily be aligned offset in order to assemble the bristle head cassette by applying an adhesive. Alternatively, the first collar end surface and the bundle end surface may be aligning to form a flush surface whereon the adhesive is applied.

Yet as an alternative, the recess is not a through going hole and adhesive may be applied in the recess of the cassette collar for attaching the bundle of bristles within the recess.

According to an aspect the bristle head cassette further comprises an insert.

The insert may be a polymer insert made from a foam or rubber material, such as polyester. The insert may be made from any suitable thermoplastic polymer, including polyamides, polyesters and/or polyolefins. Alternatively the insert may be made from wood.

The insert may be arranged centrally in the bristle head cassette. Alternatively, the insert may be arranged decentrally in the bristle head cassette, i.e. within the plurality of bristles closer to one edge portion of the cassette collar than an opposite edge portion. The insert may be used for creating a cavity within the bundle of bristles in the bristle head cassette configured for storing an amount of paint.

At least a part of the outer periphery of the insert, if being a polymer insert, may be fused together with the adjacent bristles/monofilaments. And a first insert end surface may together with the plurality of first bristle ends and the first collar end surface form a flush hardened melt forming the first cassette end surface.

The insert, if being a wood insert, may be glued to the adjacent bristles/monofilaments by applying an adhesive. The adhesive may be applied to the first insert end surface, the plurality of first bristle ends and optionally to the first collar end surface, wherein the hardened adhesive forms or partly forms the flush first cassette end surface.

According to an aspect the cassette collar comprises an integrated or attachable insert.

According to an aspect the insert is attached to the cassette collar by transverse ribs.

The cassette collar and the insert may be moulded as one part/body. The insert may be arranged centrally in the bristle head cassette by means of transverse ribs extending between the insert and the cassette collar, wherein the transverse ribs are included in the one part/body.

According to an aspect the cassette collar comprises an insert fitting for holding and/or attaching an insert.

The insert may be attachable to the cassette collar either by comprising connection ribs, e.g. transverse ribs, configured to extend between opposite inside surfaces of the cassette collar. The insert and the connection ribs may be moulded as one part/body.

According to an aspect the insert fitting comprises grid shaped ribs integrated in or attachable within the cassette collar.

The grid shaped ribs may be integrally arranged within the recess of the cassette collar or attached within recess in the cassette collar by means of press fit, i.e. by pushing the insert fitting into the recess obtaining a friction fit between an inside surface of the cassette collar and surfaces of the grid shaped ribs of the insert fitting.

According to an aspect the bristle head cassette comprise at least one further cassette collar connected to a further bundle of bristles comprising a plurality of bristles and wherein the further cassette collar is connected to at least one cassette collar and/or bundle of bristles (10).

According to an aspect is also provided a paint brush kit comprising a bristle head cassette as described above, a handle and a connector, wherein the connector mechanically connects the bristle head cassette and the handle.

The handle may have a first handle end and a second handle end, wherein the bristle head cassette may be connected to the first handle end of the handle.

Hereby is provide a bristle head cassette which may be mechanically connected to a paint brush handle, either by means of a ferrule or as an alternative by means of a connector integrated in the paint brush handle.

Hereby is alternatively provided an interchangeable bristle head cassette configured for being detachable attach to a paint brush handle by means of a connector being either a separate part, e.g. a ferrule, or an integrated part of the handle.

According to an aspect the connector comprises a ferrule or a recess in the handle.

The ferrule may be a conventional ferrule known as a metallic clamp, i.e. a separate part, that surrounds the first bundle end, i.e. the root section, of the bundle of bristles and the first handle end, i.e. an upper portion, of the handle to bind or connect the bundle of bristles to the handle. However, in this case the ferrule is connected to the bristle head cassette.

The recess or depression in the handle, preferably arranged in the first end of the handle, may be arranged to receive or configured for receiving the bristle head cassette.

According to an aspect the connector is a snap-fit connection integrated in the handle.

The handle may comprise a protruding edge and/or a snap-in area on a surface of the recess in the handle, wherein the snap-in area may be a depression, dent or a groove.

The connecting parts on the handle, i.e. the connector integrated in the handle, may be made from any suitable polymer or thermoplastic polymer, including polyamides, polyesters and/or polyolefins.

Hereby may be provided a paint brush wherein all parts of the paint brush head, including the bristles head cassette and the connector on the handle for connecting the bristle head cassette to the handle, is made of the same type of material, i.e. one or more polymers such as one or more polyamide, polyester and/or polyolefin. It is thus not necessary to use neither an adhesive nor a metal ferrule for connecting the bristle head to the paint brush handle. Further, as the paint brush only comprise one type of material it could be recycled without the need of disassembly of the paint brush into different parts.

According to an aspect the connector includes flexible members positioned on the handle towards an end, i.e. the first end, of the handle for connecting with the cassette collar, the flexible members and the cassette collar working in concert to detachably secure the bristle head cassette to the handle.

The connector may include two, three, four or more flexible members.

Hereby is provided an interchangeable bristle head cassette configured for being detachable attach to a paint brush handle by means of a connector being an integrated part of the handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of the example aspects, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the example aspects.

FIG. 1 shows a bristle head cassette according to an aspect of the invention,

FIGS. 2a-c show further aspects of a bristle head cassette according to the invention,

FIGS. 3a-b show yet further aspects of a bristle head cassette according to the invention,

FIGS. 4a-c show a cassette collar comprising an integrated or attachable insert for use in a bristle head cassette according to the invention,

FIGS. 5a-d show a cassette collar comprising an integrated or attachable insert fitting for use in a bristle head cassette according to the invention,

FIGS. 6,7 and 8 shows different aspects of a paint brush kit according to the invention comprising a paint brush handle, a bristle head cassette and a connector for connecting the paint brush handle with the bristle head cassette, and

FIG. 9 show a paint brush handle comprising flexible members for connecting with the bristle head cassette.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The method and device disclosed herein can, however, be realized in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the aspects set forth herein. Like numbers in the drawings refer to like elements throughout.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects of the disclosure only, and is not intended to limit the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed exemplary aspects of the disclosure. However, many variations and modifications can be made to these aspects without substantially departing from the principles of the present disclosure. Thus, the disclosure should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and not as being limited to the particular aspects discussed above. Accordingly, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

It should be noted that the word “comprising” does not necessarily exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed and the words “a” or “an” preceding an element do not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. It should further be noted that any reference signs do not limit the scope of the claims, that the example aspects may be implemented at least in part by means of both hardware and software, and that several “means”, “units” or “devices” may be represented by the same item of hardware.

The different aspects of the invention disclosed herein can be combined with the other aspects described herein.

The invention relates to a bristle head cassette 1 comprising a cassette collar 20 and a plurality of bristles 14 attached in the cassette collar 20. The bristles 14 are arranged tangent to each other along their length L into a bundle of bristles 10 and are aligned at a first bristle end of the bristles or a first bundle end 11 of the bundle of bristles 10 obtaining a flush or substantially flush bristle end surface/bundle end surface 12. The cassette collar 20 extends between a first collar end 21 having a first collar end surface 22 and a second collar end 23. The first collar end surface 22 is aligned with the bundle end surface 12 and the cassette collar 20 extends from the bundle end surface 12 along the length L of the bristles 14 surrounding the first bristle end of the plurality of bristles 14 forming the first bundle end 11.

In general, bristle head cassette 1 has a first and second end, the second end comprising the free ends of the bristles 14 and the first end comprising the root end of bristles 14 attached to the collar cassette 20, wherein the first end may have a flush cassette end surface 2.

In the context of the present invention under the term “cassette collar” there is understood a collar shaped body having a first collar end with a first collar end surface and a second collar end having a second collar end surface, the collar shaped body extending between the first collar end and the second collar end, and a recess extending from a second opening in the second collar end towards the first collar end.

The cassette collar 20 may be a moulded body made from any suitable material such as a mouldable polymer, preferably a thermoplastic polymer such as; polyamides, polyesters and/or polyolefins.

The outer periphery of the first and/or second collar end surface 22 may be oval, round, squared, triangular, v-shaped or have any other suitable shape.

The bristle head cassette 1 may be obtained by;

-   -   gathering a predefined number of bristles into a group or bundle         of bristles so that the bristles are tangent to each other along         their length,     -   aligning the bristles at the first bristle end of the bristles         to form a substantially flush first bundle end surface at the         first bundle end,     -   introducing the first bundle end of the group or bundle of         bristles into the recess of the cassette collar,     -   aligning the first collar end surface and the first bundle end         surface, and     -   connecting the plurality of bristles to each other and/or to the         cassette collar.

Referring to FIG. 1, an aspect of a bristle head cassette 1 is illustrated comprising a cassette collar 20 and a plurality of bristles 14 being grouped into a bundle of bristles 10 and attached to the cassette collar 20.

The bundle of bristles 10 has a first bundle end 11 and a second bundle end 13, wherein the first bundle end 11 is aligned to a flush or substantially flush bundle end surface 12 before being attached to the cassette collar 20.

The cassette collar 20 has at a first collar end 21 defining a flush cassette end surface 2 and a second collar end 23 having a recess 24 configured for receiving the bundle of bristles 10. The shape of the recess 24 correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the first bundle end 11 of the bundle of bristles 10.

According to an aspect the cassette collar 20 has a circular, oval, triangular, elliptic or square shape.

The outer shape of the cassette collar 20 could be shaped in many different ways and this opens up for a large design freedom when designing a paint brush.

The bundle of bristles 10 may be attached to the cassette collar 20 by means of an adhesive 40 applied within the recess 24, e.g. at least on a bottom surface 28 of the recess 24 and optionally also on side surfaces of the recess 24.

According to an aspect the bundle of bristles 10 may be attached to the cassette collar 20 by means of fusion by applying heat.

Alternatively, a laser source may be controlled to fuse the outer periphery of the bundle of bristles 10, i.e. a side portion along the length L of the peripheral bristles 14 of the bundle of bristles 10, to the second collar end 23 of the cassette collar 20.

According to an aspect the shape of the recess 24 correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the first bundle end 11 of the bundle of bristles 10 such that when assembled, the bundle of bristles 10 first is inserted into the recess 24 and connected to the cassette collar 20 by means of friction and thereafter fixedly connected to the cassette collar by means of adhesion, fusion an/or laser.

Referring to FIGS. 2a-c , an aspect of a bristle head cassette 1 is illustrated wherein the recess 24 in the cassette collar 20 is a through going hole.

In FIG. 2a the first bundle end 11 of the bundle of bristles 10 is aligned with the first collar end surface 22 of the cassette collar 20 before attaching the bundle of bristles 10 to the cassette collar 20. In FIG. 2b a laser is hereafter used to fuse the first bundle end 11 and the first collar end 21 together by heating them into a layer of melt 90. When the melt 90 has cooled, the melt 90 as solidified forms a uniform and substantially flush cassette end surface 2. In FIG. 2c , as an alternative to FIG. 2b , a layer of adhesive 40 is applied on the first bundle end surface 12 and the first collar end surface 22 for connecting the bundle of bristles 10 to the cassette collar 20. The layer of melt 90 (by laser) is somewhat thinner than the layer 40 of adhesive.

Referring to FIGS. 3a-b , an aspect of a bristle head cassette 1 is illustrated wherein the first bundle end 11 of the bundle of bristles 10 is aligned offset with the first collar end surface 22 of the cassette collar 20. The first collar end 21 forms a protruding edge around the first bundle end surface 12, so that a cavity is formed which may contain/receive an amount/thickness of adhesive 40. As a result, the obtained cassette end surface 2 of the bristle head cassette 1 is flush or a substantially flush.

Alternatively, and not shown, the protruding edge of the first collar end 21 may provide extra melt material 90 for the fusing of the first bundle end surface of the bundle of bristles 10 and the cassette collar 20 together.

Referring to FIGS. 4a-c , a cassette collar 20 comprising an integrated or attachable insert 50 for use in a bristle head cassette 1 is illustrated.

FIGS. 4a-b show an integrated insert 50 arranged centrally in the recess 24 of the cassette collar 20. The insert 50 and the cassette collar 20 is preferably moulded as one part, wherein the insert 50 is connected to the cassette collar 20 by means of moulded ribs 51. In the presently illustrated aspect the ribs 51 are transverse ribs 51 extending from one inside surface of the recess 24 to an opposite inside surface of the recess 24.

FIG. 4c shows an attachable insert 50 comprising transverse ribs 51 configured for being press-fitted into the recess 24 of the cassette collar 20.

Referring to FIGS. 5a-c , a cassette collar 20 comprising an integrated or attachable insert fitting 60 for the use of holding/connecting an insert 50 in/to a bristle head cassette 1 is illustrated.

FIGS. 5a-b show an integrated insert fitting 60 arranged centrally in the recess 24 of the cassette collar 20. The insert fitting 60 and the cassette collar 20 is preferably moulded as one part, wherein the insert fitting 60 is connected to the cassette collar 20 by means of moulded ribs 61. In the presently illustrated aspect the ribs 61 are transverse ribs 61 extending from one inside surface of the recess 24 to an opposite inside surface of the recess 24.

FIG. 5c shows an attachable insert fitting 60 comprising transverse ribs 61 configured for being press-fitted into the recess 24 of the cassette collar 20.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, different aspects of a paint brush kit comprising a paint brush handle 70, a bristle head cassette 1 and a connector 80 for connecting the paint brush handle 70 with the bristle head cassette 1. Hereby is provided a paint brush.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 the connector 80 is a ferrule 81 surrounding the first bundle end 11 of the bundle of bristles 10, i.e. the root section of the plurality of bristles 14, and a first handle end 71, i.e. an upper portion, of the paint brush handle 70 to bind or connect the bundle of bristles 10 to the handle 71. A layer of adhesive (not shown) may optionally be applied between the flush cassette end surface 2 of the bristle head cassette 1 and the handle 70. And/or as shown in FIG. 7, the cassette collar 20 may comprise grooves, ridges or other suitable connection means 26 facilitating the fixation or detachable attachment of the bristle head cassette 1 to the paint brush handle 70 by means of the ferrule 81. Similar grooves, ridges or other suitable connection means 27 may be provided in the handle 70.

In FIG. 8 the connector 80 is a snap-fit connection 82 integrated in the paint brush handle 70. In the presently illustrated aspect, the snap-fit connection 82 comprises a protruding edge 84 and a snap-in area 85 provided on an inside surface of a recess 72 in the first end 71 of the handle 70. The snap-in area 85 is configured for receiving the cassette collar 20 and the protruding edge 84 is configured for locking/snapping around the second collar end 23 of the cassette collar 20, when the cassette collar 20 has past the protruding edge 85 and is received by the snap-in area 85. The snap-fit connection 82 may be continuously or discontinuously extending around the inside of the connector 80. The snap-fit connection 82 extends radially inwards of the connector 80.

Referring to FIG. 9, a paintbrush handle 70 comprising flexible members 83 for connecting with the bristle head cassette 20 is illustrated. The wall defining the recess 72 in the handle 70 is divided into multiple flexible members 83. Hereby is provided detachable attachment of the bristle head cassette 1 to the paintbrush handle 70. The flexible members 83 also work as a snap-fit connection 82 comprising a protruding edge 84 and a snap-in area 85 provided on an inside surface of the recess 72 in the first end 71 of the handle 70.

The snap-fit connection edge 84 may be continuously or discontinuously extending around the inside of the connector 80/wall of the recess 72. The snap-fit connection 82 extends radially inwards of the connector 80/wall of the recess 72.

The snap-fit connection 82 above may be ratchet-like, e.g. by using more than one connection edge 84 on the outside of the cassette collar 20 and/or the inside of the connector 80/wall of the recess 72, whereby the cassette collar 20 may be optionally introduced into the handle 70 at/with different locations/depths of the recess and even be moved in and out of the recess 72 to enable differing/varying total lengths of a paint brush after assembly to the paint brush.

The outer circumferential shape of the cassette collar 20 is adapted to the way that it should be connected to the handle 70 and/or the connector 80.

The connecting parts on the handle, i.e. the connector integrated in the handle, may be made from any suitable polymer or thermoplastic polymer, including polyamides, polyesters and/or polyolefins.

According to an aspect all parts of the paint brush, i.e. the handle and the head, including the bristles, the bristles head cassette and the connector on the handle for connecting the bristle head cassette to the handle, is made of the same type of material, i.e. one or more polymers such as one or more polyamide, polyester and/or polyolefin. It is thus not necessary to use neither an adhesive nor a metal ferrule for connecting the bristle head to the paintbrush handle. Further, as the paintbrush only comprise one type of material it could be recycled without the need of disassembly of the paintbrush into different parts.

According to an aspect the bristle head cassette 1 comprise two or more cassette collars 20 connected to each other. Each cassette collar 20 is connected to a bundle of bristle 10 and to at least one further cassette collar 20. In this way, the bristle head cassette 1 could be build up with different features in different parts and by pre-manufactured standard cassette collars 20. According to an aspect the bundle of bristle 10 connected to different cassette collars 20 comprise different mixes of bristles. The different mixes of bristles can according to an aspect be one or more of the diameter of the bristles, the cross section of the bristles, the length of the bristles and the material of the bristles. According to an aspect the same type of cassette collars 20 could be used to manufacture paintbrushes of different size by changing the number of cassette collars 20 and how they are connected to each other. According to an aspect the cassette collar 20 is connected side by side in the bristle head cassette 1, put in another way the cassette collar 20 is connected to each other as pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. According to an aspect a first cassette collar 20 is connected to a second cassette collar 20 such that it surrounds the second cassette collar 20, i.e. put in another way the different cassette collar 20 are connected do each other to be similar to layers on an onion.

According to an aspect the two or more cassette collars 20 is connected to each other and the bundle of bristles 10 by being exposed to a laser, i.e. that the laser melt part of the cassette collars 20 and the bristles in the bundle of bristles 10 such that they fuse together.

According to an aspect the further cassette collar 20 is connected to at least one cassette collar 20 and/or bundle of bristles 10.

Although the invention has been described in relation to specific combinations of components, it should be readily appreciated that the components may be combined in other configurations as well which is clear for the skilled person when studying the present application. Thus, the above description of the example aspects of the present invention and the accompanying drawings are to be regarded as a non-limiting example of the invention and the scope of protection is defined by the appended claims. Any reference sign in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the preferred aspects described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

The description of the aspects of the disclosure provided herein has been presented for purposes of illustration. The description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit aspects of the disclosure to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of various alternatives to the provided aspects of the disclosure. The examples discussed herein were chosen and described in order to explain the principles and the nature of various aspects of the disclosure and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the aspects of the disclosure in various manners and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It should be appreciated that the aspects of the disclosure presented herein may be practiced in any combination with each other.

It should be noted that the word “comprising” does not necessarily exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed. It should further be noted that any reference signs do not limit the scope of the claims 

1. A bristle head cassette for a paint brush, comprising a cassette collar and a bundle of bristles comprising a plurality of bristles, wherein the bundle of bristles have a first bundle end and a second bundle end, the bristles of the bundle of bristles being arranged aligned at the first bundle end obtaining a substantial flush bundle end surface at the first bundle end of the bundle of bristles, the cassette collar comprise; a recess having a shape that substantially corresponds to a cross sectional shape of the first bundle end of the bundle of bristles and the recess extend from a first collar end having a first collar end surface to a second collar end opposite the first collar end, the bundle of bristles is connected to the cassette collar and arranged in said recess such that the substantial flush bundle end surface of the bundle of bristles is substantially aligned with the first collar end surface, the second collar end of the cassette collar is directed towards the second bundle end of the bundle of bristles and the cassette collar is arranged to be connected to a brush handle.
 2. The bristle head cassette according to claim 1, wherein the cassette collar is arranged to be mechanically connected to the brush handle.
 3. The bristle head cassette according to claim 1, wherein the recess is a through going hole.
 4. The bristle head cassette according to claim 1, wherein the bristle head cassette has a flush cassette end surface.
 5. The bristle head cassette according to claim 1, wherein the cassette collar and/or the plurality of bristles are made from a thermoplastic polymer.
 6. The bristle head cassette according to claim 1, wherein the first collar end surface is aligned offset with the bundle end surface.
 7. The bristle head cassette according to claim 1, wherein the cassette collar and the bundle of bristle are fused together by means of a laser.
 8. The bristle head cassette according to claim 7, wherein the first collar end and the plurality of the first bristle ends are fused together by a laser to form the flush cassette end surface.
 9. The bristle head cassette according to claim 1, wherein the cassette collar and the plurality of the first bristle ends are joined together by an adhesive.
 10. The bristle head cassette according to claim 1 further comprising an insert at least connected to the bundle of bristle.
 11. The bristle head cassette according to claim 10, wherein the cassette collar comprises an integrated or attachable insert.
 12. The bristle head cassette according to claim 10, wherein the insert is attached to the cassette collar by transverse ribs.
 13. The bristle head cassette according to claim 10, wherein the cassette collar comprises an insert fitting for holding and/or attaching an insert.
 14. The bristle head cassette according to claim 13, wherein the insert fitting comprises grid shaped ribs integrated in or attachable within the cassette collar.
 15. The bristle head cassette according to claim 1, comprising at least one further cassette collar connected to a further bundle of bristles comprising a plurality of bristles and wherein the further cassette collar is connected to at least one cassette collar and/or bundle of bristles.
 16. A paint brush kit comprising a bristle head cassette according to claim 1, a handle and a connector, wherein the connector mechanically connects the bristle head cassette and the handle.
 17. The paintbrush kit according to claim 16, wherein the connector comprise a ferrule or a recess in the handle.
 18. The paintbrush kit according to claim 16, wherein the connector is a snap-fit connection integrated in the handle.
 19. Paint brush kit according to claim 17, wherein the connector comprise flexible members positioned on the handle towards an end of the handle for connecting with the cassette collar, the flexible members and the cassette collar working in concert to detachably secure the bristle head cassette to the handle. 